1. iPhone set to replace the stethoscope
Level 3 Advanced
1 Warmer
Describe a stereotypical doctor. Concentrate on their physical appearance and on what he or she is
carrying and wearing.
2 Key words crossword
Read the clues to find the key words from the article and write them into the crossword.
1
2
3 Across
3. the number of people who want to do
something, such as use a product (para 6)
4
7. ways that information is shown on a
computer screen (para 5)
5
10. a situation in which the rules are not clear
6
(two words, para 8)
7 11. the invention or use of new ideas, methods,
equipment, etc. (para 9)
12. a piece of equipment used by doctors for
listening to someone’s heart or breathing
8 9
(title)
10
11
12
Down
1. people or organizations whose job is to be certain that companies, systems, etc. act fairly and safely and
follow rules (para 10)
2. the possibility to develop or achieve something in the future (para 4)
4. a piece of computer software that is designed to do a particular job (para 2)
5. a mobile phone that also works as a small computer, allowing you to store information and write letters and
reports (para 1)
6. to be stopped by someone or something from making progress or developing (para 9)
8. to start selling a new product or service to the public (para 7)
9. machines or pieces of equipment that do a particular thing (para 5)
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2. iPhone set to replace the stethoscope
Level 3 Advanced
iPhone set to replace the stethoscope However, experts say they are being prevented
from exploiting the technology’s opportunities.
Amelia Hill Bentley says that he is unable to launch a
30 August, 2010 new range of applications because of
1 The stethoscope – medical icon, lifesaver out-of-date regulations.
and doctor’s best friend – is disappearing 8 “It’s much easier to develop technology than it
from hospitals across the world as physicians is to get permission to use it,” he said. “I could
increasingly use their smartphones to monitor create a mobile ultrasound scanner and an
patients’ heartbeats. application to measure the oxygen content in
2 More than three million people have downloaded blood, but the regulations stop me. We’re not
a 59p application – invented by Peter Bentley, allowed to turn the phone itself into a medical
a researcher from University College London – device, and what that precisely means is
which turns an Apple iPhone into a stethoscope. currently a grey area in terms of regulation.
That’s the only reason we’re not seeing a flood
3 Recently, Bentley introduced a free version of
of these devices yet.”
the ‘app’, which is being downloaded by more
than 500 users a day. Experts say the software, 9 Professor Ian Wells, head of the scientific
a major advance in medical technology, has computing section in the department of medical
saved lives and enabled doctors in remote areas physics at the Royal Surrey County Hospital
to access specialist expertise. in Guildford, agrees that innovation is being
hindered by regulations that are “still in
4 “Everybody is very excited about the potential of
their infancy”.
the adoption of mobile phone technology into the
medical workplace, and rightly so,” said Bentley, 10 Wells said: “The approach of the regulators is
who initially developed the app “as a fun toy”. not well worked out yet. There’s a wonderful new
world out there but we need to find a way for
5 “Smartphones are incredibly powerful devices
regulators to protect patients and doctors, while
packed full of sensors, cameras, high-quality
not impeding innovation, research
microphones with amazing displays,” he said.
and development.”
“They are capable of saving lives, saving
money and improving health care in a dramatic 11 The Medicines and Healthcare products
fashion – and we carry these massively powerful Regulatory Agency (MHRA) – the government
computers in our pockets.” body with responsibility for standards of safety,
quality and performance in healthcare – recently
6 Bentley’s iStethoscope application is not the only
set up the Medical Device Technology Forum;
mobile phone programme lightening doctors’
a group of industry representatives, regulators,
bags and transforming their practices: there are
users and scientists, to help establish how to
nearly 6,000 applications related to health in the
regulate new technologies.
Apple App Store. The uptake has been rapid.
In late 2009, two-thirds of doctors and 42% of 12 “This is such a complex area that we are
the public were using smartphones – in effect, currently looking at every application on a case-
inexpensive handheld computers – for personal by-case basis,” said an MHRA spokesperson.
and professional reasons. More than 80% of “We want to ensure that these new technologies
doctors said they expected to own a smartphone are effectively regulated while at the same
by 2012. time removing any unnecessary obstacles
to manufacturers who wish to exploit new
7 The trend looks likely to gain pace as younger
technologies for the benefit of patients.”
doctors enter the workplace. Some medical
schools issue students with smartphones. In 13 European regulators are also striving to bring
America, Georgetown University, the University their guidelines up to date. A group of regulators
of Louisville and Ohio State University are from Austria, Belgium, Denmark, France, Ireland,
among those requiring undergraduates to Sweden and the UK was set up last December
use one. to develop guidance for software under the
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3. iPhone set to replace the stethoscope
Level 3 Advanced
European Medical Device Regulations. They are • ERoentgen Radiology Dx helps radiologists
expected to report at the end of the year. identify the most appropriate radiology exam for
a patient by searching a large database of signs,
Appliance of science
symptoms and diagnoses to help them make
• Star Analytical Services has developed an app quick assessments.
that allows patients to cough into their phone,
• Instant ECG is just one app that analyzes the
and tells them whether they have a cold, flu,
most common ECG (electrocardiogram) results.
pneumonia or other respiratory disease.
• AirStrip OB, an iPhone app, allows
• OsiriX lets doctors look at X-rays, ultrasounds,
obstetricians to monitor different stages of labour
CT (Computerized Tomography) and MRI
and pregnancy even when they are not by a
(Magnetic Resonance Imaging) images on
patient’s side.
handheld devices or mobile phones with special
software, enabling radiologists, for example, © Guardian News & Media 2010
to diagnose acute appendicitis from First published in The Guardian, 30/08/10
remote locations.
3 Comprehension check
Choose the correct answer according to the information in the article.
1. Peter Bentley initially developed the stethoscope application ...
a. … to help doctors in rural America.
b. … for fun.
c. … as part of his medical research project.
2. Smartphones are ...
a. … cheaper than larger pieces of medical equipment.
b. … powerful devices which have the potential to save lives.
c. … currently only used by young doctors.
3. More than 80% of doctors ...
a. … use the application.
b. … own a smartphone.
c. … expect to own a smartphone soon.
4. Some American medical schools ...
a. … require that students use smartphones.
b. … have banned the use of smartphones.
c. … are developing their own smartphones.
5. Regulations are currently ...
a. … hindering the development of medical applications.
b. … stopping smartphones from being turned into medical devices.
c. … leading to the death of patients.
6. Regulators want to ...
a. … stop manufacturers exploiting technology for the benefit of the patients.
b. … make it easier for manufacturers to develop new technologies to help patients.
c. … slow down innovations.
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4. iPhone set to replace the stethoscope
Level 3 Advanced
4 Lexical sets (nouns)
Find nouns from the article to write onto the word wheels.
computers and IT
medical equipment professions and
and diagnostic tools job titles
5 Discussion: Major developments in medicine
The article calls the smartphone software “a major development in medical technology”.
Match these other major developments (a-h) to the dates on the timeline and then discuss in groups how
they changed the way medicine is practised and what effects they had on patients.
1800 1850 1900 1950 2000
1867 : ____
1901 : ____ 1967 : ____ 2010 : ____
1842 : ____
1895 : ____
1953 : ____
1885 : ____
a. DNA structure described e. hygienic methods (such as sterilization) introduced
b. anaesthetic first used in surgery f. classification of blood into different groups (A, AB, B, O)
c. first human heart transplant g. X-rays invented
d. mobile phones able to listen to and record heart h. first rabies vaccine
and breath sounds
6 Webquest: Medical advances
Look on the internet to find out about other important medical advances. Add them to your timeline.
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5. iPhone set to replace the stethoscope
Level 3 Advanced
KEY
Tip: If you teach outside of the UK, find out how much 4 Lexical sets (nouns)
59p is in your students’ currency, e.g. 59p = 71 Euro
cents. An online currency converter will help you find (suggested answers)
the latest exchange rate. medical equipment and diagnostic tools: X-ray,
CT, MRI, ECG, doctors’ bags, stethoscope,
ultrasound scanner
1 Warmer computers and IT: microphones, displays, programme,
handheld computers, mobile phone technology,
Teacher’s note: If students need help with this, tell software, application, smartphone, sensor, cameras
them to imagine that they have been asked to draw an professions and job titles: scientist, regulator,
illustration of a doctor for a children’s book. What would professor, obstetrician, researcher, radiologist,
the doctor they draw look like? physician, industry representative, doctor
Teacher’s note: You could divide the students into
three groups and give each group the task of filling in
2 Key words crossword
one of the three word wheels. Then the information
could be exchanged in class. The students could be
Across
asked to write example sentences for the words that are
3. uptake
new to them or that they are not confident with.
7. displays
10. grey area
11. innovation
12. stethoscope
5 Discussion: Major developments
in medicine
Down
1. regulators 1842: b
2. potential 1867: e
4. application 1885: h
5. smartphone 1895: g
6. hindered 1901: f
8. launch 1953: a
9. devices 1967: c
2010: d
Teacher’s note: Some of your students may want
3 Comprehension check
to download the app to their iPhones. They should
be aware that a microphone is necessary to use the
1. b
application and that the app mentioned in the article
2. b
currently (in September 2010) only works with the
3. c
iPhone 4 and is not compatible with older versions.
4. a
5. b
6. b
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